Lee health educator logs last day on job

After nearly a decade as education supervisor for the Lee County Health Department, Sandra Boyd will begin a new position as a regional sickle cell educator and counselor Monday.

Today is Boyd's last day at the Lee County Department of Health before she begins serving as the Public Health Sickle Cell Educator Counselor for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The position covers eight counties, including Lee and Moore counties.

"Sanford has been good to me," Boyd said. "And this community has blessed me, but I am, personally, passionate about counseling and working with people. This position became very administrative based, and a lot of projects I managed kept me in my office. I do better working with people one-on-one rather than being in an office."

Boyd was a program consultant for the state sickle cell program before joining the Lee County health department in 2004.

"It's a program I truly enjoy, and it was time I needed to come back to it," she said. "At this point in my career, it's a good fit. I love being a part of this community, and the best thing about this job is I get to remain in Sanford."

The position is based out of Raleigh, but Boyd said she'll work from out of her home in Lee County.

Lee County Health Director Terrell Jones said the department has begun to advertise the vacancy and that Boyd will be missed.

"Sandra has been great to work with and a real pleasure," Jones said. "She keeps a positive attitude under some stressful timelines. She's a good, solid person to have working beside you, and we are going to miss her. … It's our loss and their gain."

The county's public health educator was tasked with assessing the community's health and then addressing issues with the appropriate stakeholders, Jones said.